The visiting Gu Master replied, "It will be difficult for you to continue taking care of this draconic companion unless you become a Gu Immortal yourself."
"How could I possibly do that?" the Gu Master in question answered. Fang Yuan knew from checking his aperture that he only had forty-two percent aptitude. "The secret to becoming an Immortal is... well... I don't even know how hard it would be!"
"I'll tell you what," the visiting Gu Master replied. "I've heard that over there, at the top of that mountain, there's an inheritance. If you can get to the top without having to use the help of your dragon, perhaps you can obtain it and become a Gu Immortal."
"Oh, that is..." the Gu Master said, before suddenly realizing something. "Sir, how do you possibly know that?"
The visiting Gu Master simply smiled. "Just trust me when I say that I know."
The next day, the Gu Master could not find this visitor, no matter where he looked in the village.
"It looks like he left..."
However, he began accumulating gu worms to attempt to reach the top of that mountain, a task which would normally be very difficult if not impossible. Although he was not allowed to use the direct help of his dragon as per the visitor's instructions, he was allowed to use its indirect help. The dragon had accumulated a number of wild gu worms upon it, several of which were good for stealth, defense, and movement.
Fang Yuan, even while noting this, had to admit that he thought the man had a very low chance of success.
A Rank 2 Gu Master simply could not survive in the wilderness like that. Even a Rank 3 was considered to be at the bottom of the food chain when it came to the wilderness. While a Rank 3 could wander any of the five regions without any issue, this was only for someone with extreme experience and a complete set of reliable gu worms. While this man did have reliable gu worms, they were mostly Rank 2 he did not seem to be experienced. The chance of death was extraordinarily high.
Still, it was not enough to deter the Gu Master, who set out to the top of the mountain.
He was besieged by many creatures along the way: bears, wild animals, and even a hundred beast king twice. Once, he had to hide in a pit made by a burrowing gu worm for several hours before coming out.
However, to Fang Yuan's surprise, through a combination of luck and sheer grit, five days later he did, as a matter of fact, reach the top of the mountain. However, he found that there was no one there.
"Did that visitor lie to me?" he said. "If so, I nearly got myself killed for absolutely no reason. I might not even survive the journey down. I'm lucky to have even gotten up this far..."
As he was despairing and cursing the visitor in his heart, someone suddenly appeared on the mountain. It was the Rank 5 Gu Master he had run into earlier!
"It looks like you passed my little test," the Gu Master said. "I'm glad to see that you have the determination to see things through, even if you have a low talent."
"Who are you?" the man answered. This man could not possibly just be an ordinary Rank 5 Gu Master!
"Since I have appeared like this at the peak of the mountain, I think you may have already discerned my identity. But in case you did not..." The visitor's appearance changed, and his Rank 5 aura disappeared to be replaced with a Rank 9 aura. Fang Yuan recognized his appearance from having seen him, or at least one of his wills, just earlier.
"Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable?"
"Indeed. I was wandering the Southern Border when I happened to see this strange sight of a mortal Gu Master who somehow controlled an Immortal Beast. I just decided to test you and your resolve."
"So, there is no inheritance?"
"No," Genesis Lotus said, gently laughing. "However, do not despair. There is a way that I can teach you how to properly raise your dragon."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"You will not be able to do so here. My offer is simple: you can come and join the Central Continent, becoming a member of a new sect I am creating. There you will gain help in advancing your journey of cultivation, and also come and get gu worms, though you will need to leave this behind..."
"If that's the only option available to me, and if it'll help me raise Xiao Shi, I will accept it," the man said.
Genesis Lotus smiled. "Did you name your dragon that? An adorable little name for an adorable dragon, though once it gets older, that may not be very appropriate. And what was your name?"
"Tu Xian, Lord Venerable..."
"Then Tu Xian, you will become a member of the newly formed Heavenly Lotus Sect..."
The scene shifted to somewhere in the Central Continent. A Gu Immortal was on a mountain peak. The Abyssal Earth Dragon was still next to Tu Xian. However, he had Rank 5 Peak Stage cultivation now.
A glance at his aptitude indicated to Fang Yuan that Genesis Lotus had provided assistance in raising his aptitude. The man then shattered his aperture and then floated into the air as he began collecting earth, human, and heavenly qi while balancing the three of them. A burst of lightning erupted from above - his heavenly tribulation - only to be blocked by the dragon.
"Thank you, old friend," he said, as he descended, his aperture having turned into that of an Earth Path Gu Immortal.
"Congratulations for advancing!" came the words from the Gu Master below.
"This is all thanks to you, buddy," Tu Xian said to Xiao Shi.
The scene shifted again. Xiao Shi was lying in a cave, but was moaning in pain. Tu Xian went to speak with the dragon. "That venom was intended for me as my earthly tribulation. Why did you try to block it?" Xiao Shi gave him a look - the man felt that it was saying that it would have done so again if the situation called for it as he was filled with a mixture of sorrow and regret.
The scene shifted to the inside of a building.
"Is there a way I can save him?" Tu Xian asked.
An elderly Rank 8 Gu Immortal was looking at him. "There's a way to save him. However, the material is extraordinarily costly."
"No cost is too much!" Tu Xian replied.
"Ten thousand Immortal Essence Stones." Tu Xian who only had Rank 6 cultivation at this point, could not possibly have such a fortune.
"Please, I implore you, save him! He has the strength equivalent to an Ancient Desolate Beast!"
"Would you be willing to hand him over to the sect afterwards?" the other man asked in response.
Tu Xian gritted his teeth. "I cannot hand him over like he's some kind of object!"
At that moment, they were interrupted by someone walking in.
"Who dare-" the elderly Rank 8 Gu Immortal said before noting who he was. "Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable?!"
"Lord Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable - my dragon is sick, please save him-"
The Gu Immortal who was with him was going to scold Tu Xian sharply. However, Genesis Lotus raised his hand. "All right, then. For a Venerable, many things are possible. Ret assured that I will save him."
"Thank you, Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable! I will serve the Heavenly Court with my final breath."
"Ah - your dragon will have a great place in the future. I hope you keep that in mind..."